Columbia Employee Shot and Killed

A technical assistant at the Law Library known for his devotion to Islam and his warm smiles was shot and killed Tuesday night in a restaurant in Harlem.

The victim, 39-year-old Malik Murray, entered Aroma Chinese restaurant on Tuesday at 11:45 p.m. and was shot twice in the chest with a .38-caliber revolver by two men who are still at large, police said.

According to the New York Daily News, Murray was taken to St. Luke's Hospital after the shooting, where he died approximately 20 minutes later.

As of today, police were investigating whether or not the two unidentified men were attempting to rob Murray or the restaurant, which is located next to a grocery store and a church on W. 125th Street. Although there is a security camera inside, it is unclear whether the shooting was captured on film.

Murray, who had served for almost 10 years as a technician overseeing photocopy machines at the Law Library, was described as a family man who had plans to open up a mosque.

"He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," said a neighbor who used to live next to Murray.

"He's not someone who was involved in the street life -it looks like he had bad luck," said Kent McKeever, director of the Arthur Diamond Law Library.

"He was a very cheerful guy, and one of the things we will miss will be his smile," McKeever added.

Mckeever used to consult Murray, who had spent time studying in Senegal, about Islamic law books in the library. Murray was something of an icon at the Law School, recognized by many for the long African robes he wore to work, as well as for his good humor.

Memorial services will take place this weekend, beginning tonight at the Al-khoi Islamic Center in Jamaica, Queens. Members of the Muslim Students Association are going to tonight's Janaza prayer ceremony. The funeral will be held on Friday at 12:30 p.m. in Washington Memorial Park.